by PegNews wire

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DENTON — The Texas Woman's University School of the Arts will explore the relationship between traditional and contemporary Asian artistic practices and Western contemporary culture during Asia and the Arts: Transformational Dialogues, taking place throughout October on TWU's Denton campus.

The series will include dance, drama, music and visual arts events. Visit this website for a full listing. Admission to all events is free, unless otherwise noted. For more information, call (940) 898-2086.

Cornerstone events for Asia and the Arts include:

"Gamelan Naming Ceremony: Sruti Kanti Swara," scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4 in the Margo Jones Performance Hall, located on the north side of Pioneer Circle at Oakland Avenue. Admission is free.

The centerpiece of the ceremony is the Balinese angklung gamelan, built specifically for TWU in 2007 by Made Kartawan in Bali, Indonesia. The angklung gamelan is a collection of pitched metal percussion instruments, bamboo shakers, drums, timekeepers and gongs. Each gamelan is formally given a name specifically chosen to represent the individual relationship of the musicians to the instruments, to the environment and to the divine. "Sruti Kanti Swara" literally means "something we have to listen to or explore through media of friendship/relationship and beautiful music sounds."

The naming ceremony will be conducted in a traditional Balinese manner, beginning with a large processional bearing instruments, flowers, fruits and other sweet foods. The TWU Gamelan Ensemble will dress in traditional Balinese costumes. The ceremony also will feature performances by internationally known gamelan expert I Ketut Gede Asnawa, the TWU Gamelan Ensemble and dancer Ayu Putu Niastarika Asnawa.

"Photography Exhibition and Lecture: Transformational Dialogues," Tuesday, Oct. 7 in the TWU Visual Arts Building, located on the south side of Pioneer Circle at Oakland Avenue. The event features the works of photographers Reiko Imoto, Osamu James Nakagawa and David Gibson. A lecture with the artists will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m., with the opening ceremony scheduled from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Admission is free.

"Monkey: The Quest to the West," scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24-25 in the Redbud Theater Complex, located on the northwest side of Hubbard Hall. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. For reservations or more information, call the TWU Box Office at (940) 898-2020.

This production, created and performed by critically acclaimed actors Laura Jorgensen and Fred Curchack, is an adaptation of "The Journey to the West," one of the most beloved comic novels from China. A supernatural trickster,

Monkey King is charged by Buddha to protect a Buddhist monk on a perilous journey full of outrageous misadventures.

"Transforming the Arts, Breaking Boundaries," scheduled Oct. 30. This closing event of the series begins with a guided tour of the visual arts galleries and ends with a lecture demonstration highlighting the dance artistry of Los Angeles-based choreographer Cheng-Chieh Yu. The tour begins at 4 p.m. in the foyer of the Visual Arts Building. The dance lecture/demonstration begins at 5 p.m. in the Margo Jones Performance Hall.

Source: Texas Woman's University